Treatment of denudatine 1 with 10% HCl solution at 30-50 degrees C lea
ds to rearrangement to two pairs of epimers (5A) and (5B), (8A) and (8
B) as well as 7 and 15. The rearrangement mechanisms are discussed. Co
nversion of 7-->5A/5B-->15 under acid catalysis can be realized. While
the conversion of 15 to 5A/5B can be realized with NaOH-DMF at 120-12
6 degrees C. Structures for 5A/5B, 7, 8A/8B and 15 were established on
the basis of chemical and spectral methods.